The sixteenth session of the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD-16) convened for its third day on Wednesday, 7 May 2008, at United Nations headquarters in New York. Delegates continued their consideration of the thematic cluster for the 2008/2009 implementation cycle - agriculture, rural development, land, drought, desertification and Africa.

During the morning, one parallel session heard presentations and exchanged views on the themes of agriculture and rural development, while another session addressed issues surrounding the thematic issue of drought.

During the afternoon, parallel sessions heard presentations and exchanged views on the thematic issues of land and desertification.

The learning centre and Partnership Fair continued throughout the day, and side events were presented during the lunch break and the evening.

The afternoon thematic session on land, chaired by CSD-16 Vice-Chair Tri Tharyat (Indonesia), featured panelists Jolyne Sanjak (MCC), Clarissa Augustinus (UN-HABITAT), Erick Fernandes (World Bank), Omara Amuko (IUFAWA) and Michael Taylor (International Land Coalition). Panelists and participants discussed land and livelihoods, climate change and land use change, integrated land use planning and management, and information systems and tools for land use planning.

Jolyne Sanjak (Millennium Challenge Corporation).

Michael Taylor (International Land Coalition).

Omara Amuko (UIFAWA).

Nandhini Iyer Krishna (UNCCD Liaison Office).

Children and Youth.

Norway.

Thematic Session: Desertification

The afternoon thematic session on desertification, chaired by CSD-16 Vice-Chair Daniel Carmon (Israel), featured panelists Jeff Herrick (USDA-ARS), Sanjay Kumar (Ministry of Natural Resources, India), Nancy Kgengwenyane (Okavango Integrated River Basin Management Project) and Uriel Safriel (Hebrew University). Panelists and participants discussed the global dimensions of desertification, desertification and poverty, relationships between agricultural and pastoral practices and desertification, land degradation and desertification, monitoring and early warning of desertification, and the impact of desertification on climate change.

At lunchtime, Heifer International presented a side event on "The Value of Livestock Based Livelihoods in Africa."

In the evening, a side event on "Agricultural Productivity: Meeting the Sustainability Challenge" was presented by Croplife International, the International Fertilizer Industry Association, the International Federation of Agricultural Producers and the International Council for Science.

The Government of Spain organized a side event on the International Exposition Agua Zaragoza 2008, which will be held from 14 June to 14 September in Zaragoza, Spain on the theme "Water and Sustainable Development." Following the presentation, a panel discussed "Water shortage, Drought and Climate Change" in the context of Expo Zaragoza 2008.

Around CSD-16

While participants moved forward with their discussions, nearby tourists sailed in circles.